BYE BYE BROWN BAG

BYE-BYE BROWN BAG Art Department says goodbye to Brown Bag Fashion Show for now

ROWAN PLINSKY

In late October of 2015, a runway sat between the staircases in the Commons and stretched through a crowd of students. Spectators from all grades gathered around to watch some of the art department’s finest students parade down the runway modeling their hand made costumes of mythological figures. Every single one of the costumes was made out of brown paper bags. The Brown Bag Fashion Show was in full swing that cloudy, late arrival morning.

The fashion show may have happened early on a Late Arrival morning, but it was beloved by the faculty and students inside and outside of the art department.

“The Brown Bag Fashion Show showcased people in the art department” senior Will Benkelman said. “I think that was cool because [the art department] does not always get the spotlight.”

This year, the Brown Bag Fashion Show will be taking a leave of absence.

“The department is going through a lot of changes,” art teacher Rachel Downs-Blair said. “We have two new art teachers, one of which felt uncomfortable doing something like [the Brown Bag Fashion Show] their first year.”

In order to make the Brown Bag Fashion Show happen, the responsibility of faculty includes taking three weeks out of their curriculum, so they were be tentative about taking on that kind of challenge this year. Also, the school did not pay for supplies, and participants would not usually buy their own, so the teachers ended up having to pay for the materials.

“It’s been hard to get kids to participate, and it has been something that we have had to require.” Downs-Blair said. “I don’t think it should have to be a requirement.”

However, the Brown Bag Fashion Show may be coming back. In the future, the

During the 2015 Brown Bag Fashion Show, art teachers Rachel Downs-Blair, Michelle Salmans and Marsha Poholsky, showcase their outfits. Teachers as well as advanced students created their own outfits to model in the show. “The show was a way to think outside the box,” Poholsky said. Right: Photo by KLAIRE SARVER

On the runway, senior Will Benkelman shows off his “guns.” The Brown Bag Fashion Show was an annual fall event. “The show is something that makes Free State unique” Benkelman said. Left:

Photo by ALI DODD

Art Club or the Graphic Design Club may have a hand in putting on the show.

The Brown Bag Fashion Show was one of the events that set Free State apart from other high schools. It demonstrated creativity and collaboration skills. Participants from last year’s show are sad to see Brown Bag go. “I think the Brown Bag Fashion Show will definitely be missed.” senior Lane Weis said. “I know everyone that participated in it, either as a designer or model, had a lot of fun.” Showing off her costume, senior Marissa Valles-Mora models in the 2015 Brown Bag Fashion Show for the first time. This show has been a tradition for more than a decade. “[By not having the fashion show] Free State is going to lose a lot of creativity, people are creative and can make great things,” Valles-Mora Bottom:

Photo by ALI DODD

“I know everyone that participated in it, either as a designer or model, had a lot of fun.”

- SENIOR LANE WEIS Pages by DRAKE RINER